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How to Cook Juicy Pork Chops, Every Time
Pork chops get a bad rap for being bland and tough. The culprit? Overcooking them. But don’t worry, our resident chefs shared a few key tips to getting juicy, flavorful pork chops every time.
From choosing the right cut, to brining and cooking, we’ll walk you through all the steps and show you some of our favorite recipes that you’ll be glad you swapped in this week.
Hungry for more? Explore our cooking classes for tips, ideas and tricks from our chefs!
PICK THE BEST CUT
The first step in cooking juicy pork chops is to choose the right cut. The best cuts for juicy pork chops are bone-in rib chops and center-cut chops. These cuts have a good amount of fat and marbling, which keeps the meat moist during cooking. Try to avoid thin chops as they can dry out easily.
BRINE YOUR PORK CHOPS
One of the best ways to ensure you get juicy pork chops every time is to brine them. If you’re new to brining, it just means you’ll soak the pork chops in a solution of water and salt, which helps keep the meat tender and juicy.
A basic brine for pork chops consists of ¼ cup of salt dissolved in 4 cups of water, but you can add other flavorings such as aromatics, herbs and spices if you wish.
To brine pork chops, place them in a large bowl or zip-top bag and pour the brine over them. Make sure the pork chops are fully submerged in the brine, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours. Pat them dry before cooking.
COOK YOUR PORK CHOPS TO PERFECTION
Cooking your pork chops properly is how you get juicy results. One of our go-to methods is to first sear them in a cast iron skillet with oil or butter—2–3 minutes per side—and then pop them in a 400°F oven and cook for 6–10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (they will continue to cook as they rest, bringing the internal temp up to 145°F).
You can also go straight to popping them in the oven. Place the pork chops on a broiler pan and season with salt and pepper. Then, broil the pork chops—5–6 minutes per side—until golden brown and cooked through.
The internal temp is the most important tip for getting those chops just right. Because the meat will continue to cook as it rests—and will usually rise another 5-10 degrees doing so—you’ll want to remove them from the oven early enough to prevent them from overcooking.
PORK CHOP RECIPE IDEAS
There are several ways to get juicy pork chops, but here are a few of our favorite recipes:
PORK CHOPS WITH FIGS
This recipe calls for bone-in pork chops seared in a skillet until golden brown, then drenched in a red wine fig sauce. The result is an elegant, comforting dish with a beautiful presentation.
BRINED, SMOKED AND GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH PEACH-BOURBON BARBEQUE SAUCE
Pork chops take to brine and smoke so well, you’ll never want to eat pork chops any other way. Top these with a homemade peach bourbon barbecue sauce to seal in their sweet, smoky flavor.
SPICE CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH ORANGE CHIPOTLE GLAZE
The thickness of this chop, dry rubbed in cumin, coriander, chili, salt and pepper, combined with an orange-chipotle glaze is what gives us that bold, smoky juiciness we’re after in this dish.
Get the Spice Crusted Pork Chops with Orange Chipotle Glaze Recipe!
SEARED PORK CHOPS WITH PEACH THYME GLAZE
Seared until golden brown and coated in a beautiful glaze of fresh peaches, thyme and brown sugar, this recipe has a beautiful balance of flavors, hitting you with fresh summer fruit and savory chops.
Brined in a mixture of apple cider, beer and brown sugar, these pork chops lock in a sweet, juicy flavor that’s layered in comfort and then steamed to perfection.
Get the Cider Brined Pork Chops Recipe!
Hungry for more? Explore our cooking classes for tips, ideas and tricks from our chefs!
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